3.8 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental ImpactsIntroduction

The Hidden Cost of Tech

Part of Environmental Issues · GCSE GCSE Computer Science revision

This introduction covers The Hidden Cost of Tech within Environmental Issues for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Environmental Issues in 3.8 Ethical, Legal, Cultural and Environmental Impacts for GCSE Computer Science with 17 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 1 of 6 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 1 of 6

Practice

17 questions

Recall

12 flashcards

The Hidden Cost of Tech

Every Google search, every Netflix stream, every text message has an environmental footprint you can't see. Data centres powering the cloud use as much electricity as some countries. Your old phone contains rare earth metals mined in environmentally destructive ways. E-waste piles up in landfills, leaking toxic chemicals. But technology also helps - smart grids, remote working, digital documents. It's a complex picture!

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Environmental Issues. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Environmental Impacts of Technology Deep Dive: Positive Environmental Impacts Memory Trick: MECE

Practice Questions for Environmental Issues

What is e-waste?

A. Electricity wasted by computers when on standby
B. Discarded electronic devices such as old phones and computers
C. Emails and digital data that are deleted
D. The exhaust gases produced by power stations running data centres

1 markfoundation

Explain the environmental impact of data centres and describe one way this impact can be reduced.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What is e-waste?

Discarded electronic devices

What does MECE stand for in environmental impacts?

Manufacturing, E-waste, Carbon footprint, Energy consumption

17 questions on Environmental Issues — practise free

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Environmental Issues

Environmental Impacts of Technology